A police officer with the city of Davis, Calif., was in serious condition late Thursday after she was shot while responding to a triple-car accident, authorities say. The suspect is being sought.

A California police officer was in serious condition late Thursday after being shot while responding to a traffic accident, and a manhunt was underway for the suspect, authorities said.

The female officer, who was not identified, arrived at the scene of a three-car crash around 7 p.m. local time when shots were fired, the Davis Police Department said. The officer suffered serious injuries and was rushed to UC Davis Medical Center, department spokesman Paul Doroshov said during an evening news conference.

The suspect was described as a white male in his 20s with an average build, FOX40 Sacramento reported. He was reportedly wearing a baseball hat, black jacket, blue or tan jeans and black tactical boots.